Diseases and Conditions
Intussusception
Children
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Preparing for an appointment
Risk factors
Risk factors for intussusception include:
- Age. Children — especially young children — are much more likely to develop intussusception than adults are. It's the most common cause of bowel obstruction in children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years.
- Sex. Intussusception more often affects boys.
- Abnormal intestinal formation at birth. Intestinal malrotation is a condition in which the intestine doesn't develop or rotate correctly, and it increases the risk of intussusception.
- Certain conditions. Some disorders — such as cystic fibrosis, Henoch-Schonlein purpura (also known as IgA vasculitis), Crohn's disease and celiac disease — can increase the risk of intussusception.
